Manufacture of sheet metal pipes and the like



. l, 1931. w. R. HUME MANUFACTURE OF SHEET METAL PIPES AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 6, 1928 Patented Dec. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WALTER REGINALD HUME, or

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA MANUFACTURE OI SHEET METAL PIPES AND THE LIKE Original application filed June 6, 1928, Serial No. 283,356, now Patent No. 1,816,534, dated July 28, 1931,

and in Australia June 27, 1927. Divided and this application filed September 7, 1929.

relates to the manufacture hollow or tubular articles or plates which are first. rolled or shaped in a bending machine or the like so as to form curved blanks the meeting edges of which aresubsequently secured together, for instance by'welding, to thereby form the pipe or like article.

This invention of pipes and like from metal sheets The object of the present invention isto.

facilitate manufacture and ensure the production of true form pipes or like articles by the provision of a method ,and'means for bringing the longitudinal meeting edges of the curved blanks into closelv abutted relationship and retaining them in position while" they are temporarily or permanently united.

In the preferred form of the invention the longitudinal edges of a blank while held in abutted relationship are first temporarily united by tack welding at longitudinal intervals, after which a permanent and continuous joint is formed by welding the edges together from end to end of. the curved blank.

Referring to the drawings which form p art of this specification Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of means in accordance with this invention for bringing the longitudinal edges of a curved blank into closely abutted relationship preparatory to uniting same.

Figure 2 is a viewsimilar to Figure l but in which'the longitudinal edges are closely abutted.

Figure 3 is a contracted side elevation of a curved blank, and embodiesthe means 11- lustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figuref is a plan of Figure 3.

The pipe blanks 2 may be shaped into substantially cylindrical form by any suitable means and if the meeting edge portions 2a, 2b, happen to be slightly flattened by such shaping they may be correctly curved before the blanks are acted upon in accordance with the present invention. A suitable method and means for eliminating such'flatness from the meeting edge portions is disclosed in the specification of my co-pendinsrUnited States patent application Serial No. 283,356, filed Serial No.

June 6, 1928, now Patent No. 1,816,534, dated July 28, 1931, from which the present application has been divided. It is to be understood, however, that such initialtreatment.

pipe blank into closely abutted relationship,

the meeting edge portions 2a, 2?), are adapted to bear against a stop face, or abutment 73 (as indicated in Figures 1 and 2) while pressure, acting towards said stop face, is appliedsimultaneously to the external surface of theblank.

at two zones or points 74, 7 M, (Figures 1 and 2) which, in endwise viewing of the blank, are preferably spaced equi-distant from the gap between said meeting edges, 20, 2d, and from each other. By thus applying pressure to the blank the meeting edge portions 2a, 2?), are caused to slide inwardly so that the meeting edges20, 2d, are brought and heldfagainst each other, as in Figure 2, without in any way distorting the curvature of the blank which is thus of perfect circular form, in cross section. While the meeting edges are held together as aforesaid they are tack welded at suitablyspaced intervals, or otherwise temporarily secured together, so that the cylin-- drical'blank may be removed for final welding along the line of the joint;

The stop face or abutment may be constituted by a horizontal flange 7 5, of a stop member 76 adapted to extend longitudinally apparatus for closing themeeting edges of above the blank being treated and to be held stationary during operations. This stop member may have secured thereto at its ends is arranged with its side flanges 84 projecting upwards so that the curved blank, with its meeting edge portions 2a, 2b, uppermost, may rest upon the upper edges of said flanges 8 The presser, which preferably extends longitudinally for the entire length of the blank, may be forced upwardly by a plurality of rams 86 operating in vertical cylinders 87 from the open upper are projected by fiuid pressure. bear at their upper surface of the horizontal flange or baseSS ofthe channel shaped presser 88, and preferably'mid way of the width thereof. The ram cylinders 87 may be suitably attached to the framework 82 at appropriate longitudinally spacedintervals, and fluid under pressure may be led to the cylinders by a main service pipes89 and anumber of branch service pipes 91 (Figure 3) may be provided whereby discharged from said cylinders by way of an exhaust pipe 93. v V i Y he presser 83 may have one or more guide he m members 94 securedto and depending therefrom and adapted to slide within opposite plates of the main framework 82. Presser members 83 of different widths may be employed according to the diameter of the blank 0V to be treated, so that in all cases the blank will be sub ected to external pressure at three points or zones spaced approximately equiindicated in Figure 7 being disposed in, alignment with the meeting welding operations may distantaround the circumference thereof, the pressure applied at two of said points acting in a counter direction to the pressure at the third point or zone which is disposed. adjacent the meeting edge portionof the'blank.

To ensure that the end edges of the blank are perfectly true, that is to say that they are perfectly square with, or at right angles to, the lengthfofthe blank, one end edge of the blank may bearagainst a stop member 95 (Figures 3 and 4) whilst a wedge 96 may be driven between the other end edge and an inclined face of another stop member 97 as 4, said step members edgeportions 2a, 2b, of the blank.

2c, 2d, to be abutted, and while remains in such raised attitude the meeting edges are tack welded. To permit access to behad to said meeting edges so that tack be carried out, the horizontal flange 75 and, if desired, the adjacent portion of the stop member 76 may have gaps or recesses 98 formed therein at suitably spaced intervals.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent is v n apparatus .for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet metal, means for forcing the longitudinal meetends of which the rams ends against the und or A suitable Valve 92, the fluid may be ing edges of j 7 metal blank into abutted relationship come relationship with pressed together in the desired arcuate'for stantially tangentially to said meeting edge portions of the blank so that when the latter is subjected to pressureby the presser member said edgeportions may slide towards and into abutted relationship with each other against said workin surface.

4 2. In apparatus or the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodiesfrom sheet metal, meansfor forcing the longitudinal meeta curved or substantially tubular prising a stop member or abutment adapted to extend longitudinally of and to bear externallya'gainst said meeting edge portions of the blank, 7 tend longitudinally of the blank and to engage-the external surface thereof at points remote from said edges, means acting on said presser member to force said edge portions of the. blank against said stop member or abutment whereby said edges are pressed together in the desired arcuate formation, said stop member or abutment having a working surface which extends substantially tangentially to said meeting edge portions of the blank so that when the latter is subjected to pressure by'the presser member said edge portions may slide towards and into abutted working surface, said stop mmeber being provided with recesses at longitudinall spaced intervals whereby the abutted edges of the blank may be initially united within said recesses.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet metal, means for forcing the longitudinal meeting edges of a substantially tubular metal blank into abutted relationship, comprising a said edge portions of the blank against said apressermember adapted to exeach other against said stop member or abutment whereby said edges are pressed together in the desired arcuate formation.

4:. In apparatus for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet metal, means for forcing the londitudinal meeting edges of a curved or substantially tubular metal blank into abutted relationship comprising a stop member or abutment adapted to extend longitudinally of the blank and having a working surface disposed tangentially to and adapted to bear externally against said meeting edge portions of the blank, a presser member adapted to extend longitudinally of the blank, said presser member being of channel shape in cross section the outer ends of the opposite side flanges thereof being adapted to engage the substantially tubular blank at two positions in its circumference said points being spaced approximately equi-distant from said meeting edges of the blank, and means actmg on said presser member to force said edge portions of the blank against said stop mem- "i ber or abutment whereby saidedge portions tubular metal blank into acting on said presser are caused to slide towards and into abutted relationship with each other against said working face of the abutment.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet metal, means for forcing the longitudinal meeting edges of a curved or substantially abutted relationship comprising a stop member or abutment adapted to extend longitudinally of and to bear externally against said meeting edge portions of the blank, adapted to extend longitudinally of the blank, and to engage the external surfaces a presser member supply of fluid under pressure, said rams being arranged at longitudinally spaced intervals in relation to said presser member and adapted to operate the latter.

7. In apparatus for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet metal, means for forcing the longitudinal meeting edges of a substantially tubular metal. blank into abutted relationship comprising a stop member or abutment adapted to extend longitudinally of and to bear externally against said meeting edge portions of the blank, a presser member adapted to extend longitudinally of the blank and to engage the external surface thereof at a point remote from said edges, means acting on said presser member to force said edge portions of the blank against said stop member or abutment whereby said edges are pressed together in the desired arcuate formation, said stop member or abutment having a working surface which extends substantially tangentially to said meeting edge portions of the blank so that when the latter is subjected to pressure by the presser member said edge portions may slide towards and into abutted relationship with each other against said working surface, said stop member being provided with recesses at longitudinally spaced intervals whereby the abutted edges of the blank may be initially united within said recesses.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

. W. R. HUlWE.

thereof at positions in its circumference remote from said edges, and a series of rams member to force said edge portions of the blank against said stop member or abutment whereby said edges are pressed together in the desired arcuate formation.

6. In apparatus for the manufacture of pipes and like hollow bodies from sheet for forcing the longitudinal meeting edges of a curved or substantially tubular metal blank into abutted relationship comprising a stop mem adapted to extend longitudinally of and to bear externally against said meeting edge portions of the blank, a presser member adapted to extend longitudinally of the blank and to engage the external surface thereof at different positionsin its circumference, means acting on said presser memberto force said edge portions of the blank against said stop member or abutment whereby said edges are pressed together in the desired arcuate formation, and a series of rams operating within cylinders each having means of communication with a common ber or abutment I 

